Making Soy Pillar Candles

Again, the key to making quality soy wax candles is quality
ingredients... mainly a good soy candle wax. In this project I have used KY
Candle Wax Supply's votive blend. Soy pillar candles require a harder wax to
burn properly, so do not use a container soy wax.

Soy pillars can be rather tricky, simply because we are going to use a mold.
The same rule applies with other molded candles like votives and tapers.
Since this is the case, you should be able to follow this guide to make soy
votives, soy tapers, and soy tarts.

I have to admit, the great thing about using soy wax and other natural
candle waxes is the ability to melt it in the microwave. This makes cleanup
a breeze!

To begin the project, the first thing we need is a pillar molds. You can
find these at many online candle supply stores but you may want to check
eBay. A lot of metal candle molds can be found on eBay at a pretty
reasonable price. I have even gone so far as to make my own molds with
supplies from a local hardware store. Someday, I will share my secrets! ;-)

Pillar candle molds for making soy pillars can be a variety of different
shapes and sizes. It has been my experience to start with a smaller pillar
mold, then work your way up to bigger and more extravagant molds.

After your wax is melted, add your color and fragrance. Once the wax is
melted well, it is time to pour. There is a silicon spray that is available
for metal candle molds. This spray is referred to as a releasant. This makes
it easier to get the pillar, out of the candle mold. I have found this to be
fairly non-effective on smaller candles but once you get to a larger soy
pillar, this comes in handy!

Before pouring your candle, you will need to wick you mold. I have used a
wooden skewer to tie the wick to at the top of the mold (bottom of the
candle). Then pass the wick through the hole in the bottom of the mold (top
of the candle). Your wick size will depend on the diameter of your soy
pillar. If your intention is to sell these products, test with a couple
different wick sizes. The soy pillar should burn completely and consume
itself.

You will find various methods of sealing the bottom of the mold from leaking
wax after you pour your soy pillar. These can be as simple as a sticky type
of wax, a magnet, or a rubber plug. I prefer the rubber plug, but feel free
to experiment. Make sure you have a sealed bottom, or you will have a big
mess!!

Now pour your soy wax into the pillar mold. Once your soy wax is poured, it
will start to set. This length of time depends on the room temperature and
the temperature of your wax.

Let your pillar sit in the mold overnight. This will give soy pillar time to
setup. Once the pillar candle is set up, it is time to release them from the
mold. The soy pillar should pop out of the mold with a slight tug from the
wick. If your candle is stuck in the mold, you may have to put it in the
freezer for a few minutes. Be careful... when soy wax is submitted to
extremely cold temperatures, it has a tendency to crack. Avoid putting your
soy pillar in the freezer for more than a couple minutes. If you have the
time, it may be better to put the candle in the refrigerator for a bit
longer.

Once the soy pillar is released from the pillar mold, it is always good to
let the candle "cure" for a day or two, however if you are ready to burn
one, feel free. When burning soy pillars, make sure you burn it on a plate
or something fireproof to catch a wax runoff if it occurs.

Good luck with your soy pillars,... and I would be happy to hear and success
stories, or answer any questions you may have. Thanks again for your visit
to soywaxcandles.org!